Mop



A. E. FHENTiS.

MOP.

APPLICATION FILED NOV- :3. 1919.

2 smsns snzsr l- Q- @Pwihb 1 Patented June 14, 1921.

A. E. PRENTIS.

MOP.

APFLICATION FILED NON-13,1919- Patented June 14, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES ARTHUR EDWARD PRENTIS, OF KENT, ENGLAND.

MOP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 14, 1921.

Application filed November 13, 1919. Serial No. 337,668.

the fabric of the mop is dressed with fluid.

dressing. The latter may, for example, be elther a polishing, cleanslng or a dlsinfeotmg dressing, and such mops are particularly suitable for use on floors, such as those covered with floor-cloth or made of parquet or other boards, and other surfaces. A mop according to the present invention is characterized by a container. for the dressing-fluid supported on a part of themop (for example a mop-head plate) when the mop is in use, combined with means to convey the fluid from the container to themopfabric.

In one embodiment of the invention, the fluid is distributed in the mop-fabric through a perforated tube enveloped by the fabric.

In another embodiment of the invention, fingers are provided at or near the margin of the mop-head plate (for example by slotting the marginal portions of the plate in ward from its edge and bending some of the interslot portions up and some down), and a buffer-member, such as a length of cord, is held in the guides to prevent scratching of walls or furniture in the vicinity of the surface to which the mop is being applied.

Preferably some of the guides serve only to position the buifer-member and some serve as clips to hold it in place, and in one specific form of the invention a clip is constituted by a tongue formed integral with the plate and turned over to form a tubular spring grip for the buffer-member.

The invention also includes details of construction, for example the manner in which the fabric may be secured to the mop-head so as to be readily and quickly removed for cleaning, and the particular manner-in which the clips for the buffer-member are pro vided.

One preferred form of the invention will now be described in detail in connection with the accompanying drawings, although it is to be understood that the invention is not limited by the constructional details so described. Moreover, although a triangular mop-head is illustrated in the drawings, it will be understood that the invention can be equally well embodied in a mop of any other desired shape.

In the drawings- Figure 1 is a plan view of the mop with all ts parts assembled;

Flg. 2, on an enlarged scale, is a part section on the line 22 of Fig. 1 with the mopfabric, handle-socket and buffer-member removed;

Fig. 3 is a plan of the mop head-plate of Fig. 1 looking from above, with the de tachable parts removed;

Fig. 4 is a perspective View of a portion only of the mop-fabric, a clip for the fabric, and a fluid-distributing tube in, their assembled relationship; I

Fig. 5 shows in section a portion of a modified form of head-plate,

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a p0rtion of the head-plateshowing a still further modification,

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the parts shown in Fig. 4, and i Fig. 8 is a similar view of a slightly modified form of mop.

Like reference letters indicate like parts in the drawings.

As shown particularly in Figs. 1 and 3, a substantially trlahgular metal mop-head plate 1 has secured to one face of it, and disposed centrally near one side of it, a tubular socket 10 for a mop-handle. This socket is pivotally mounted, by lugs 11 and a pivot-pin 12, in upstanding arms 13 of a U-shaped strip of metal secured, by means of a rivet 14 to the underside of the plate 1 with its arms 13 projecting through slots in the plate. In the angle opposite the socket 10 strips of metal 2 are punched up to form clips to hold a triangular fluid-container 20 having an outlet nozzle 21. When the container 20 is held within the clips 2, the nozzle extends through a slot 3 to the underside of the head-plate.

On the underside of the latter, and around and near the edge thereof, is secured, in any convenient manner, a metal tube 30 bent or otherwise constructed to conform to the shape and size of the plate 1, as shown clearly in Fig. 8. The tube may be in the form of a continuous tube or, as shown in the drawings, in the form of a straight tube bent into the required shape and having its two ends closed as at 31. The tube is perforated on its underside at 32 at lntervals along its length and is also provided wlth an orifice 38 for the reception of the nozzle 21. The margin of the plate 1 is slotted at intervals in a direction normal to the edge, and the interslot portions are bent alternately up and down, as shown'at 40, so as to afford fingers for holding or positioning a cord or other buffer which latter will extend beyond the fingers and will serve to prevent scratching, for example of furniture or of the walls in the" vicinity of the floor or other surface upon which the mop is being used. Preferably certain of' the fingers, for example those designated by the reference character 41, are bent sufiiciently far over or in such a manner as actually to grip the cord, the other fingers 4O merely serving toposition the cord around the edge. As is customary in such mops, the fabric is preferably a strip of absorbent material. 60, the edgesof which are heavily fringed as at 61, and, as shown in Fig. 4, curved spring clips '70 are preferably, although not necessarily, secured to the fabric. In the example shown, the fabric and the clips are secured by means of eyelets which may be augmented by sewing, but as such a method of securing is well-known. it has not been illustrated. The clips are adapted to spring over and grip the tube 30 sufficien tly securely, and in such a manner, that the fabric is held to the tube to envelop the greater portion of its surface Alternatively the clips 70 may beseparate from the fabric and the latter may be held between'theclips and the tube 30, as shown more particularly in Fig. 8.

The fluid charged into. the container 20 will flow therefrom through the outlet 21,

which-is conveniently controlled by an adjustable needlevalve. 22, 23 to regulate the supply of fluid tothe tube 30. I

In operation, the mop-fabric will generally be first impregnated with the required fluid and similar fluid from the container 20 may, when necessary during the whole or any desired portion of the time that the mop is in use. he allowed to flow through the nozzle 21 into the tube 30 by.

which it is distributed through the orifices 32 into the fabric. If the fabric is secured to the outside of the clips 70, as shown in Fig. 4, the clips are perforated at 71 to permit the ready passage of the fluid to the fabric. V

It will be seen, therefore, that the fabric is always maintained sufficiently impregnated with the required dressing which, but for the adjustably controlled supply of fluid from the container 20, wou-ld otherwise gradually become used up by either use,

' evaporation, or both.

In Fig. there is illustrated a section of a small portion of a modified form of the mop. In the modified construction the mophead plate 1 has its outer edge rolled over 7 separate pieces secured to the plate by means of rivets such as 4:01.

Certain of the fingers 4:00 would be meployed and so formed as to actually grip and hold the ends of the buffer-cord, as in the case of the clips 1-1 of'the previouslydescribed construction.

Fig. 6 illustrates a still further form of the invention in which a modified form of clip for the ends of the buffer-cord is shown to replace the clips 41 of Figs, 1 and 3. In this example the central portion of that edge of the plate 1 on which the clips 41 would normally occur, is extended in a tongue which is rolled over to form the tubular portion 410 which is silient to constitute a tubular spring grip for the ends of the cord. are provided as before and in fact may in all respects be similar to that described in connection with Figs. 14..

Fig. 6 can also be taken to represent a sufficiently re- The fingers 4O similar construction when the tube 30 is constituted by a rolled-overedge, such as 300. In such a case the edge would be so cut and rolled over as to constitute a tube similar to the tube 30 and terminating, as at 31, and the portion of metal between these ends would be rolled over on the other side of the plate to constitute the grip e 10. Ob-

viously this portion, if insufliciently large, could be originally formed with the headplate as a tongue extending from it.

One advantage of the present invention is that it'is not necessary to dip the mopfabric from time to time into the dressingfluid, nor to sprinkle it on or otherwise apply it to the mop-fabric, as the dressingfluid may be supplied at all times as require d from the container 20. and its springs are quickly and readily detached from Moreover, the fabric engagement with the mop-head I V and may thus be used as a'rubber or cluster apart from the mop. its spring clips may be quickly removed for washing or otherwise cleansing.

It is obvious that modifications may be Also the fabric and made in construction of theparts described. I

For example the tube 30 may be perforated with slits instead of round holes for the escape of the fluid, the size and distance apart of such holes or slits varying according to the viscosity of the fluid used. Also the holes or slits can be formed either in the sides or in the bottom of the tube, or in both the sides and bottom. Moreover, it is not essential to provide a buifer-member such as and if this is omitted clips such as 40, 41 or 410 will not be necessary.

lVhat I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l, A mop of the type described, comprising in combination a mop-headplate,a detachable closed fluid container separable from and carried by the headplate, a perforated fluid-distributing conduit also carried by the headplate, means to convey fluid from the container to the conduit, and a mop-fabric engaging said conduit to receive dressing fluid directly therefrom, the container being so disposed relatively to the conduit as to enable the fluid to flow to the latter by gravity when the mop is in use, substantially as described.

9.. A mop of the type described, comprising in combination a mop-headplate, a mopfabric, a container for dressing fluid supported on one face of said plate, a perforated conduit on the opposite face of said plate, a quick release clip adapted to secure the mop-fabric to the perforated conduit, and means to convey fluid from the fluidcontainer to the said conduit.

3. A mop of the type described, comprising a head plate, a mop fabric, a container for dressing fluid and a perforated conduit both supported by said head plate, a quick release clip in the form of a curved spring, said clip being adapted to secure the mop fabric to the perforated conduit and of such dimensions as to spring over the perforated conduit and be retained thereon, and means to convey fluid from the fluid container to said conduit, substantially as described.

a. A mop of the type described comprising in combination, a mop-fabric, a mop head-plate, a container for dressing fluid and a perforated conduit both supported on the head-plate, said conduit being shaped to correspond with the shape of the mop head-plate, means to secure the mop-fabric over the perforated portion of the conduit, and means to convey fluid from the fluidcontainer to the said conduit.

5. A mop of the type described comprisiing in combination, a mop-fabric, a mop head-plate, a container for dressing fluid and a perforated conduit both supported on the headplate, the said conduit being shaped to correspond with the shape of the mop head-plate, a quiclnrelease clip adapted to secure the mop-fabric to the perforated conduit, and means to convey fluid from the fluid-container to the said conduit.

6. A mop of the type described comprising in combination. a mop head-plate, a container for dressing fluid and a mop-fabric both supported on the head-plate, means to convey fluid from the fluid-container to the mop-fabric, fingers constituted by separated marginal projections around the edge of the head-plate, some of the projections bent up and some down, and a buffer-member held in the fingers.

7. A mop of the type described comprising in combination, a mop head-plate, a container for dressing fluid and a mop-fabric both supported on the head-plate, means to convey fluid from the container to the said fabric, fingers constituted by sepa ated marginal projections around the edge of the head-plate, some of the projections bent up and some down, a buffer-member held in the fingers, and clips constituted by some of the marginal projections to retain the buffer member in place.

8. A mop of the type described comprising in combination, a mop head-plate, a container for dressing fluid supported on the head-plate, a perforated conduit formed by rolling over the marginal portion of the head-plate, a mop-fabric secured to the perforated conduit, and means to convey fluid from the fluid-container to the said conduit.

9. A mop of the type described comprising in combination, a mop head-plate, a container for dressing fluid supported on the head-plate, a perforated conduit formed by rolling over the marginal portion of the head-plate, a mop-fabric secured to the conduit, means to convey fluid from the fluidcontainer to the said conduit, marginal guides around the edge of the head-plate, and a buffer-member held in the guides.

10. A mop of the type described comprising in combination, a mop head-plate, a container for dressing fluid and a mopfabric both supported on the head-plate, means to convey fluid from the fluid-container to the mop-fabric, marginal fingers around the edge of the head-plate, abufl'er-member to be held in the fingers, and a tubular spring clip to secure the buffer-member and to hold. it in position in the fingers.

11. A mop of the type described comprising in combination, a mop head-plate, a container for dressing fluid and a perforated conduit both supported on the head-plate, a mop-fabric, means to secure the fabric to the perforated conduit, means to convey fluid from the container to theperforated conduit, marginal fingers around the edge of the headplate, and a bufler-member held in the fingers.

12. A mop of the type described comprising in combination, a mop headplate, a container for dressing fluid'supported on the head-plate, a perforated conduit formed by rolling over the marginal portion of the head-plate, a mop-fabric, a tubular spring clip of such dimensions as to spring over the perforated conduit and to grip the fabric between it and the said conduit, means to convey fluid from the container to the said conduit, marginal fingers around the edge of the head-plate, abuffer held in the fingers, and means to hold the buffer in position in the fingers.

13'. A mop of the type described, comprising in combination a headplate, a mop fabric supported on said plate, marginal fingers around the edge of said plate, and a buffer member detachably held in said fingers. substantially as described.

14. A mop of the type described, comprising in combination a headplate, a container for dressing'fiuid and a perforated conduit both. carried by said headplate, a mopfabric enveloping and detachably secured to said conduit and means to convey fluid from the fluid container to said conduit, sub stantially as described.

15. A mop of the typedescribed, comprising in combination a headplate, a perforated conduit supported thereby, a mop-fabric, spring devices for detachably securing, said fabric to saidconduit, and means for supplying fluid to said conduit, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature. 25

ARTHUR EDXVARD PRENTIS. r 

